Police capture 'runaway' tortoise in Charlotte neighborhood

A Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officer and an Animal Care and Control officer pick up the tortoise after it escaped from its enclosure (Source: Facebook.com)

A photo of the tortoise was posted online in a group for Plaza Midwood residents (Courtesy: Kelly Turner)

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) -

A runaway tortoise created a social media frenzy in a Charlotte neighborhood after it escaped from its enclosure Tuesday.

The African Spurred Tortoise was spotted Tuesday along McClintock Road and Morningside Drive. A photo was posted in a Facebook group for Plaza Midwood residents by Kelly Turner.

"Lost turtle anyone?" Turner posted. "Great group of people got the ninja off the street."

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police (CMPD) officer Todd Watson and Animal Care and Control Officer Margaret Pollard were called to the area to help find the tortoise.

CMPD posted a photo of the pair carrying the tortoise on its Facebook page Wednesday morning saying they "found the fugitive tortoise making his getaway down the street and brought it home to its owner."

According to officials the tortoise escaped from his home on Ivey Drive while his owners were out of town.

"Neighbors in the area were very helpful," officer Watson told Animal Care and Control. "They knew [the homeowner] had tortoises from his neighborhood Facebook posts."

The tortoise weighs about 90 pounds.

CMPD joked on Facebook that the tortoise "prompted a slow speed pursuit" but officer Watson says "believe it or not, he is fast."

Officers secured the tortoise at the house and the owners drove home to put him up.